Park Commission to Host Invasive Plant Workshop

BASKING RIDGE, NJ - The Naturalists of the Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center are inviting adult home owners to hear a presentation by Melissa Almendinger, Education Director for the New Jersey Invasive Species strike Team (NJISST), titled, “Identifying Invasive Plants in Your Yard.”

The workshop is scheduled for Monday, January 27, 2014 from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

Ms. Almendinger will explain how to identify both non-native invasive plants commonly seen in our area and recent invaders. Invasive plants, often sold in nurseries, are beautiful, “deer-resistant”, and readily available. The presentation will detail why these invasive plants are so harmful to our local eco-system and how individuals can make a difference in their own yard.

The program is free. Pre-registration is recommended at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-766-2489

The Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center is nestled within 450 acres of the western portion of the Great Swamp Basin of the Passaic River. Its variety of habitats include: floodplains, swamps, rivers, intermittent streams, marshes, meadows, fields, forests, and nautral and man-made ponds. These habitats provide homes for diverse plant and animal populations in this environmentally sensitive park. All are within walking distance of the multi-faceted building. An environmentally-based library is located within the Center itself. The Exhibit Hall annually hosts environmentally-focused presentations that are free to the public.

Blue “BOBO (Buy One - Bring One) Fridays” bins now are located at the Environmental Education Center and Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge, as well as at the Somerset County Park Commission headquarters at North Branch Park in Bridgewater. The public is invited to drop off canned food or personal-care items for donation to Somerset County food banks.

Information on this event and other Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org